The view of the
proposed WaterView Condominiums from Fowler Lake looking
southwest. The building on the right is a
3,800-square-foot condo with three bedrooms, three full
bathrooms and two half bathrooms. On the left is a
25,000-square-foot, eight-unit building.Rendering courtesy of Jason
Gallo

OCONOMOWOC — Renner Architects, along with opponents of
the proposed WaterView Condominium project at 517 N.
Lake Road, will state their case of why, or why not, the
project should be approved at a pubic hearing at 6:30
p.m. Wednesday.

Peter Renner, founder of Renner Architects, did not
return calls for comment.

Oconomowoc City Planner Jason Gallo said Renner
Architects will give their presentation about their
project, citizens against or for the project will be
able to speak and then the city’s own hired consultant,
Peter Rott of Isthmus Architecture out of Madison, will
talk about the project, as well.

The members of the city’s architectural commission
recused themselves from the project, giving way to
hearing examiners to decide the fate of the project.

Once everyone speaks, the examiner will look at the
findings of fact, but most likely won’t make a decision
on Wednesday, Gallo said.

Director of the Isthmus Historic Preservation David
Cullinane said his group hired Trego Architects to
review Renner’s plans for the project.

“(They) detailed dozens of violations of this project
for the existing zoning regulations for the isthmus
historic district,” Cullinane said.

Cullinane said his group has had lots of support and
that the project would dwarf other buildings in the
area.

“The way that the zoning was set up that any subsequent
buildings on the isthmus have to reflect the scale in
addition to the style, and in addition to the
architectural component, that were within that period of
time from 1870 to 1920,” Cullinane said. Cullinane said
he thinks the community would welcome Renner’s talents,
just not at this location on North Lake Road.

“Developers sometimes try to ignore or attempt to get
around the community’s wishes because there’s such large
profit incentives,” Cullinane said. “We’re not against
development, but we don’t want to destroy existing
architecturally and historically important sites just
purely for profit.

“This is not someone who cares about Oconomowoc, this is
someone who cares about making money.”